A poor wasted, desolate, misrepresented and reproached Remnant, of the
Suffering Anti-popish, Anti-prelatick, Anti-erastian, Anti-sectarian,
true PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHof CHRISTin SCOTLAND, united together
in Truth and Duty.

Published against the Proclamation, Accession and Establishment of
George D. of Hanover to be King in these Lands, and all his Abetters
and Supporters, in Aprile 1715.

TrueCovenanter.com Editor's Introduction.

Our Master said, Think not that I am come to
send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword, Matt. 10.34;
and so it has been found, in both church and state, and in every sort of
society in this world, that peace, as precious a thing as it is, and much
sought after, is yet a rare thing, and of no certain endurance. Such has
been found the case in even the best of churches, and other societies,
where God's honour was most sought, and his presence most evident for
a time. Neither ought we be surprized, that Satan and his servants in
this world, should make such peaceful societies the object of their
peculiar designs in their attempt to dishonour God, and banish the
glory of his name from the earth.

But such cunning must forever, willingly or not,
play the subservient part, to a higher wisdom, working through all of
these means, to effect that very thing which seems to be in great danger
when the peace of God's people is allowed to be broken. Had Satan success
in his designs? Had they themselves a hand, by their own foolishness,
negligence, pride, defect of charity, or any other sin, in overturning
that order and peace, which used to exhibit God's glory? Were other
causes conspiring, which seemed no way to tend to the good of God's people
or the praise of his name? Yet so it is, that above all, in every one of these
things, though they meant it for evil, yet God meant it unto good,
Gen. 50.20. His purpose, hidden as it may be to us, is to display the
perfection of his strength, through the weakness of his people, and apparent
calamities of this life, 2 Cor. 12.9. By such means, he will have all
glory and honour ascribed to himself, that no flesh should glory in
his presence, 1 Cor. 1.27-29.

So, as it has been seen many times since then, in
the year 1715, the Lord was pleased, for wise and holy reasons, to put the
suffering remnant of his people in Scotland to a trial for a season. A
great many were given over to a scandalous course, and another party, taking
offense thereat, chose to separate themselves from their former brethren,
including their only pastor. Thus began the first significant work of schism
among professing Covenanters.

The occasion was the accession of George,
Elector of Brunswick, to the throne(s) of Scotland, England,
and Ireland. None of the remnant adhering to the cause of the Covenanted
Reformation desired to own him for their lawful King. Yet, some
imagined that it was their duty, or perhaps that it would be useful,
to follow a seemingly moderate and charitable order, by presenting to
the Elector a representation of their grievances, and warning against
the sinfulness of the manner in which he was expected to take office
in both England and Scotland. Without a general concurrence of the
societies, a "Representation of Grievances" was drawn up by some and
presented to the Elector by the Duke of Montrose. Thus violating their
long-established rule that, nothing relative to the publick, &
concerning the whole, should be done, without the consent or at
least the knowledge of the whole, their former unity was broken.

Whether this was any actual receding from their
testimony or not, it was esteemed as such by some, and, when no actual
declaration against the accession of George to his pretended authority
was forthcoming from the United Societies, others determined to lift
up a testimony against the Proclamation, Accession, and
Establishment of George D. of Hanover to be King, &c..
In this they did well, insofar as the times and events did indeed demand
such a testimony of the Lord's servants. And within time, the United
Societies themselves determined to confess their fault by a
Declaration
published at Auchensaugh in 1718, declaring their adherence to their
old principles, and rejection of any authority in the pretended King George.

It is probable that at that time some, who formerly
saw a necessity in separating from the United Societies, then reunited with
their former brethren, as they returned from their straying path. Charity,
forgiveness, and peaceableness are virtues wrought by the Spirit of God in
the hearts of his people, and commanded to be put in practice in the due
seasons thereof. The biblical unity which is promoted thereby, amongst God's
people, is both beautiful and comfortable. But sadly, many turn to two extremes,
both harmful to the people of Christ, and the honour of God. Most often,
the sinful nature of man, is drawn to compromise, as zeal and love for the
honour of God grow cold. Then he puts in practice what he calls "charity, forgiveness,
and peaceableness," when it is rather the due season for the exercise of other
virtues. Then, unity is attained among men, by turning away from the Lord,
and his cause. But there are times also, when charity, forgiveness, and
peaceableness, with like Christian virtues, are called for, and yet
are not put in their due exercise. Pride and vain pretensions to a higher
degree of zeal than their brethren will easily put men upon such a course.
Distrust, Fear, and other principles, will all work to keep the people of
God in a broken state, when unity ought to be sought.

In the case of that division which took place in
1715, and was kept up for many years to come, (long after the United Societies
returned to their duty in 1718,) it has been customary to point at the harshness
and undue vigour of opposition in the party dissenting from the United
Societies, as the cause of the schism, and fault which prevented a re-union
of the parties. Unquestionably it was at least a cause, as the beginnings
thereof may be detected in the following document, and were by no means
lessened in years to come. Yet, honesty requires that it be acknowledged
that other differences of principle and practice did also give occasion
for the continuance of this division. These however, are not evident in
the following document, which otherwise presents a testimony conformable
to that emitted by the United Societies themselves on previous occasions.

Therefore, although approbation cannot be given
to the party keeping up division from the United Societies after 1718, yet
their deed itself, in bearing testimony against the Proclamation,
Accession, and Establishment of the prelatic pretender, George I.,
is worthy to be remembered and approven, if not in every expression and
accessory matter, yet in its general purpose as a faithful opposition to
the sinful intrusion of an heretick and idolater into the throne of a
nation solemnly given over to Jesus Christ in Covenant. For a short time
this party took up the duty of faithful testimony bearing while others were
distracted from their wonted faithfulness,—and their first deed therein
will prove both matter of interest and instruction to those who desire
to see a faithful testimony uplifted at the present day against the vain
pretensions of those presently commanding "authority" within Scotland,
England, Ireland, and many other nations formerly blessed with the Light
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

ALTHOUGH it should be reputed and exploded, by the
generality, both of open and vailed Adversaries to the
Truth; and by unstedfast, declining or fainting Friends
to the Interest of Christ, whether pretended or real, whom
the Fear of Man hath brought into a Snare; who meddle
with them that are given to Change, and who walk not uprightly, according
to the Truth of the Gospel; as a Thing unsuitable, unseasonable,
unnecessary and perilous, yea, unreasonable and treasonable,
That we, who are so few, small, and despised, scattered as Sheep
without a Shepherd, having no Help of Man at all, none to take
care for our Soul, to gather, feed, lead, or to rule over us, but the royal
Prince Jesus, the chief Shepherd; should in these Circumstances, at this
Juncture, when most Part are triumphing and rejoicing at the Causes
of our Grief, publish any Thing of this Nature: Yet, when we
consider what wonderful and glorious Things the Lord hath formerly
wrought for his Church in these Lands, especially in poor
Scotland; what blessed Instruments he raised up, both in Church and
State, to appear and act for him and his royal Prerogatives, princely
Scepter, and glorious Laws and Government, who is the great Lord
{2}
Law-giver to his Church; whose Inheritance Scotland, England, and
Ireland are by the Father's Grant, his own Purchase, and our actual
Surrender by Covenant; and what an excellent Reformation in
Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, he brought his
Church in Scotland unto; so that she became a Pattern to other
Churches, and had this Prerogative above them all, That at once,
and from the Beginning, nothing was left unremoved and unreformed,
that ever followed from the Man of Sin: And every Part of the
Reformation was regulated by the measuring Line of the Sanctuary:
And that Reformation was not only established and ratified by the
civil Sanction of many righteous and laudable Laws, approving and
confirming every Part thereof; and many excellent penal Statutes against
the Enemies thereof: But likewise it was enacted that all
such as should rule or reign over us, in Places of Power or Trust,
supreme or subordinate, should be such as, for their known Integrity,
constant Fidelity, Zeal, and good Affection to the Cause of GOD,
might safely be trusted with the Defence of that Reformation, and
the Execution of the Laws establishing the same; and should at
their entry upon the Exercise of such Trust, Power, or Authority,
bind and oblidge themselves by the most explicite, full, and solemn
Oaths and Covenants, That during their whole Lives they should
continue in the Profession and Practice of the true reformed Religion,
in their own Persons and Families; and should maintain it to the
outmost of their Power, in their Stations, throughout these Dominions
and covenanted Kingdoms: And that they should put Laws
impartially in Execution, against the Enemies thereof, of whatsoever
Designation or Denomination, whether Papists, Prelatists, Malignants,
Erastians, or any other Enemy of the Truth: And finally, That this
happy Constitution, was engaged to be for ever continued, maintained,
and supported, by Persons of all Ranks, high and low, in opposition
to all the Adversaries thereof. By all which our Land was
dignified to be the Nation, that of all others, had the best civil and
ecclesiastick Constitution and Establishment, whilst Truth and Peace
most sweetly embrac'd and kissed each other, and while Religion and
Liberty, Church and State, went hand in hand together. And when
we now, on the other Hand, take a view of the present sad and deplorable
Condition of the LORD's broken-down, despised, and buried
Work and Interest, in these three Kingdoms, and especially in poor
{3}
sinful back-sliding and Covenant-breaking Scotland; and how all that
glorious and carved Work of Reformation, is broken down with the
Axes and Hammers of a perverse Generation of Prelatists and Malignants,
in their wicked Laws, and corrupt pretended Parliaments,
and trampled upon by a perfideous and treacherous Set of Erastians,
tho' professed Presbyterians, in their willingly yielding unto, complying
with, and corroborating the said wicked Laws, and the corrupt
Spring from whence they proceed; and how by these Means our Covenants
and ancient laudable Laws are vilified, despised, and expelled;
the lovely ecclesiastick Constitution made to be dependant on the
civil Authority, and laid on the same Level with the idolatrous
Kirk of England, by many Erastian Encroachments made thereupon,
and submitted unto; and by the execrable Treaty of the late incorporating
Union, our laudable civil Establishment wholly overthrown,
and delivered up to England: And such set up in all the Places of
Authority, Dignity, Trust, and Office, as are visibly Enemies, and
sworn Adversaries to our Reformation, Vassals of Babylon, maintainers
of her Trumpery of a Lordly Hierarchy, and uninstituted
Ceremonies; and bound in a Covenant or Oath, manifestly Contradictory
to the Sacred Covenants which the Land once entered
into with the LORD, that they shall forever maintain and support
that wicked Antichristian Hierarchy of Prelacy, and Bastard Rites
and Ceremonies of a Superstitious Worship; and who are actually
maintaining and supporting all Errors, Sects, and Heresies, that do
but peaceably submit to their Government: And all this under the
specious shew and pretext of the Protestant Interest. We say, upon
review of these Things, what the Land once was, and what Degeneracy
it is now arrived to, and more and more confirmed in, we
are so far from seeing any such cause of Extraordinary rejoicing and
exulting, as the most of professed Protestants, and pretended Presbyterians
have lately expressed, at the Proclamation, Accession, and
Coronation of their pretended King, that rather we think his Admission
and Establishment, with the whole Complex Course, and
Carriage of High and Low, in bringing it about, and so far advancing
and carrying it on, and their Carousing, Revelling, and Rejoicing
therein, may afford all the true lovers of Zion Matter of deep Humiliation
and Mourning; and calls for a Testimony from their
Hands, against such GOD-provoking, Wrath-procuring, and Land-desolating
{4}
Courses. Therefore, whatever others do, we being obliged
and desirous to confess CHRIST, and own His Interest in
opposition to His Enemies and all that maintain contrary Interests,
could not let such deeds pass without some Testimony against the
same; unless we had forgotten the method of our worthy, zealous,
and resolute Reformers and faithful Contenders for Truth, and our
Solemn Bands and Covenants to the LORD, and also His great
Kindness unto us.

But lest any should so far mistake us, as to think that our dissatisfaction
with, and dissent from the present Prelatick Pretender, proceeds
from any affection to any Popish Pretender, as some have already
branded us; it will not be Impertinent to give a brief hint of
our Principles: For, as thereby we are bound to look on both
sorts of Pretenders to be Antichristian and Abjured Opposers of the
Kingdom and Interest of CHRIST, and helpers of that Beast; so
we presume, that none who know our Principles, and believe that
we have any regard for Truth, if they love not to speak Lies, will
say, that we any ways favour a Popish Pretender; for, as we are
bound by our Solemn and Sacred Covenants National and Solemn
League, according to the Holy Scriptures, to Oppose him, and all
his Complices, in their Attempts of making him King over these
Realms; so we Resolve, through Grace, to do, in our Stations, to
the utmost of our Power.

As to our Principles, and what we positively own as our Testimony;
and what we disown, as prejudicial thereto, and inconsistent
therewith, none needs be ignorant thereof; the same being stated
and declared in our Inform: Vindication, Reprinted Anno 1707, expressly
from Page 29 and forward; which here we Homologate,
and give this brief account thereof, at present, as follows, Viz.

We sincerely, unanimously, and constantly Testify and Declare,
our avouching the only true and living GOD, in Three Persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Co-eternal, and equal in Power and
Glory, to be our GOD; and our closing with His way of Redemption
by JESUS CHRIST, the only Saviour of Elect Sinners,
whose Righteousness is only to be relied on by Faith for Justification
and Salvation: And hearty Embracing of, and Adherence to
the written word of GOD, contained in the Scriptures of the Old
and New Testament, as the only Rule of Faith and Manners:
{5}
and whatsoever is founded thereon; and consonant thereto; such
as the Confession of Faith, Catechisms larger and shorter; the
Sum of Saving Knowledge, and the Practical use thereof; our Covenants
National and Solemn League; the Acknowledgement of
Sins, and Engagement to Duties; Directory for Worship, Propositions
for Church Government and Ordination: Together with
all the faithful Acts and proceedings of our General Assemblies
(especially from the Year 1638 to 1650) and every piece of the
attained to Reformation.

We in like manner Testify and Declare our rejecting and disowning
whatsoever is Contradictory or contrary unto the written
Word of GOD; or not founded thereupon, either expressly, or
by direct, near, and necessary consequence: And more particularly,
we sincerely, unanimously, and constantly Testify and Declare
our Abhorrence, rejecting, and disowning of Popery, Prelacy,
Quakerism, Libertinism, Antinomianism, Socinianism, Pelagianism,
Arminianism, Burognianism, and all other Heresies of whatsoever
designation; together with the Blasphemies, Heresies, and wild
Extravagancies of John Gib, the late false Prophets, or the like:
All Errors upon the Right Hand, such as Anabaptism, Independency,
Millinarism, and all other Sects and Schisms, together
with the sinful divisive courses followed by any others, especially
in our Day; and the usurping of any upon the Ministerial Function,
not duly called thereunto, and qualified for the same: And
all Errors upon the left Hand, as Erastianism and Lutherianism, together
with all kinds of Idolatry, Malignancy, Superstition, and
Prophaneness; as Atheism, Deism, Blasphemy, Cursing, Swearing,
Prophanation of the LORD's Day, Drunkenness, Uncleanness,
and whatsoever else is found contrary to sound Doctrine and the
Power of Godliness.

In like manner, we Testify and Declare our cordial Adherence
unto all the Faithful Contendings, for promoveal & Defence of Reformation,
in former Times; as these against the Publick Resolutions,
and afterwards: As also to all the Faithful Contendings
of Ministers and Professors, since the Work of Reformation was overturned
unto this Day; whether against the Sacrilegious Usurpation
and Tyranny of the Malignant Party; or against the Compliances,
Defections, and Unfaithfulness of Ministers and Professors:
{6}
Likewise unto all Faithful Protestations, Testimonies, and
Declarations, that have been given, in those latter Times, for
the Work of Reformation; and against all that is prejudicial
thereto.

And expressly, we declare our Adherence unto the Declarations,
Published at Rutherglen (May 1679,) at Sanquhair (June
1680, May 1685, August 1692, November 1695, May 1703, and
October 1707) and at Lanark (January 1682,) together with the Apologetical
Declaration 1684, the Testimony against the Toleration
1688, the Paper found on Mr. Hall at the Ferry (as related in
the Hynd. Page 133, &c.) And the Papers affixed on the Cross of
Edinburgh, and other Patent Places; at the burning of the Oath of
Abjuration, and Acts (28 October 1712.) That against Yule-Vacance,
24 December 1712, and that against the Proclamation and Accession
of the Duke of Hanover 5 August 1714, which we repeat and
enlarge hereafter:

For the Matter, Substance, and scope of them,
as agreeable to the Scriptures, and Accommodated to the Times
wherein they were Exhibited;

And as explicate in the Inform.
Vind. Head 2. The Substance, Scope, and Strain of them we take
to be of this Importance, (which we resume as a Principal part,
and the General Import of this our present Declaration) viz.

We a few Poor despised and reproached Christians, who have
not many Wise Men after the Flesh, not any Mighty, not any
Noble among us; but are of the Foolish, weak, base, and
despicable Nothings in the World; yet having this Ambition to
be His Called, Chosen, and Faithful Soldiers, who is King of Glory,
King of Heaven, King of Saints, King of Nations, King of
Kings; whose Kingdom is everlasting and Universal: Considering
the many Insolent Indignities, Affronts, and Reproaches cast
upon His Name and Glory, and the many Usurpations, Encroachments
and Invasions made upon his Crown and Dignity, by a
Pestilent and Malignant Generation of his Papistical, Prelatical, and
Tyrannical Enemies, who have Rebelled against Him, and have
Renounced, Corrupted, and subverted His Royal Government,
both in the Church, and in the World, both in His Kingdom of
Grace and of Power: Do bear Witness and Testimony (in our
Station and Capacity) against these Antichristian Rebels, from
the Highest to the Lowest. And do assert the Interest and Title
of our Princely Master, and own Allegiance and Absolute Obedience
{7}
to Him and His Government, to which He hath manifold and
undoubted Rights, by His Eternal GOD-Head, by the Father's
Donation, by his own Purchase and Conquest, and by His People's
Choice, Surrender, and Dedition by Solemn Covenant, &c.

In a humble Recognizance of all which Rights, we Own and Avouch,
that He hath that incommunicable Prerogative of Sole Sovereignty

over His Visible Kingdom as well as Invisible, without
any Co-partner or Competitor, either Co-ordinate or subordinate,
in prescribing Laws, by no Human Authority to be reversed or
inverted; in appointing Ordinances, immutable, without Addition
or Diminution, for Matter or Manner; Instituting a Government
which no Man or Angel can, without Blasphemy, arrogate
a Power either to invert or evert, change or overturn: And constituting
Officers, which must be clothed only with His Commission,

and His alone; guided by His Instructions, and his alone, acting according

to his Laws and Prescribed Plat-Form, and His alone,
without any Dependance on, Subordination to, Licence, Warrant
or Indulgence from any Mortal. And therefore, we disown
and detest every thing, that hath not the Stamp of His Authority,
either in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, or Government: And
will discountenance Prelacy, Supremacy, Popery, Erastianism, and
all Corruption contrary to His Institution, who is Sole and Supreme
Lawgiver to the Conscience; and will submit to, or comply
with nothing that may directly or indirectly signify our Respect
unto them. Hence, we will take none of their Oaths, Subscribe
none of their Bonds, yield to none of their Impositions, pay none of
their Exactions: Neither will we hear, or receive Ordinances
from any Minister, but the Faithful Authorized Ambassadors of
CHRIST our King, whatever either Rage or Reproach we Suffer
for it. We assert and Affirm also, That our Exalted Prince is King
of the whole World, by whom Kings Reign, and Princes Decree
Justice, as his Ministers of Justice, in Subordination to Him,
whom he hath appointed to Rule over us, with just Boundaries
that they may not exceed, and true Characters, by which we should
know them, and pay them Deference. And therefore, whosoever
shall arrogate to themselves, and extend their Power beyond and
above his Prescripts, being neither called to, nor qualified for the
{8}
Office, nor improving it for the Ends He hath appointed, we will
Acknowledge them no otherwise than Usurping Tyrants; and not
Magistrates, nor Ministers of Justice, to whom he hath given the
Sword, by His Preceptive Will: But only as Lions, Bears, Wolves,
to whom He hath given a Rod, by His Providential Will:
In that case, we may be passively Subject, when we can do no better;
but will never own Conscientious Allegiance to them; nor
own them as our Lawful Magistrates. And therefore we will not
bow to their Idols they set up, nor prostitute either Conscience or
Liberty to their Lust: But will endeavour under our Master's
Banner and Conduct, to preserve whatsoever the LORD our GOD
hath given us to possess; as they sinfully possess what their GOD
gives them: And will maintain a War of constant Opposition to
them (against whom as Amalakites, our LORD hath declared a
War for ever) without Parly, Treaty of Peace, Capitulation,
Composition, Truce, or any Transaction: We will neither meddle
or make with them, less or more; nor seek their Favour, nor embrace
it, when it is offered on any Terms, that may imply any
Obligation to surcease from our Duty to our King, and irreconcileable
Opposition to them.

This in general we thought fit to declare,
and Testify to all Parties where we stand, and hereunto
(through the LORD's Grace, Strength, and Conduct) we Resolve to
Adhere and persevere therein.

But more particularly, with reference to the late Occurrences
and the present Course; We look upon ourselves bound in Conscience
of Duty, for the Glory of GOD, the Vindication of Truth,
and for our necessary Exoneration; and the Information of all concerned
(lest our Silence should import our Consent) to Protest and
bear Testimony against the Proclamation, Accession, Admission, and
Coronation of George Lewis Duke of Hanover, &c. to be King over
these Covenanted Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland, and
his Acceptance of the Imperial Crown and Dignity thereof, under
the sinful Restrictions and Limitations wherein the same was tendered
to him; and that upon these Grounds and Reasons following:
Which are for Substance, Scope, and Tendency, in effect the same,
that were Affixed on the Cross of Edinburgh the 5th of August last.

Viz. 1mo. Because of his being by Education and Profession, one of
{9}
the Lutherian Persuasion which falls in with Popery, Arminianism,
and the Adulterous Church of England, in many weighty Articles of
Doctrine and Rites of Worship: For which false Doctrine and Superstition,
we in this Nation were by the Mercy of GOD, fully
Reformed; and against which, we are by Covenant, Solemnly engaged:
And seeing we are by the Word of GOD, Deut. 17.15, to set none
over us but a Brother; not only in Nation, which he is not, but more
especially in Religion; even one sound and Orthodox, Zealous and
well Affectionate to the Cause of GOD, and his Covenanted Interest:
And by the Laws of our Nation, (Act 8. Parl. 1. Act 99, Par. 7.
Ratified in Act 23. Par. 11. and Act 114. Par. 12. King James
6. and Act 4. of K. Char,) that our K. should be of the same true
Reformed Religion with the People; according as it was Established
in Purity, when these Laws were made; and that by our Covenants
we are only to defend the Persons and Authority of such Kings as defend
and preserve the True Religion: And likewise, that we are
bound, without Respect of Persons (in which there is no Exception
made of Kings) to Extirpate all Heresy and false Religion out of these
Kingdoms: It is evident, that without breaking off all these Sacred
Obligations, of GOD's Command in His Word, of our Covenants
National and Solemn League, and our good and just Fundamental
Laws, we cannot set up one of the Lutherian, or any other
false Religion to be King over us; nor consent to them that
set up such an one, to be their King in these Lands: But must
look upon him and them as Rebels and Usurpers; For their Transgressing
and Contemning such good Laws Divine and Human, overrunning
and overturning such Sacred Boundaries and Prescripts.

2. Because he is educated in, and inured to an absolute tyrannical
Way of Government in his own Dominions in Germany; and is a
Stranger to our Laws and Constitutions, whereon the Security of
our Peace, Liberty, and Property depends; And as it is an unconscientious
Betraying of the Interest of Religion, to commit it into the
Hands of one of an adverse and heretical Persuasion; so it is an unmanly
and imprudent Abandoning of civil Liberty, to put it into the
Hands of one of tyrannical Education and Disposition; and one, who
has not Acquaintance with the Conditions of our Government, and
the Boundaries of the several Rights of Princes and People, as they are
fixed by our fundamental Laws: Therefore, he should not [have] been
{10}
admitted, and far less invited and subjected to, by any in these
Lands.

3. Because he is in League with the Emperour, and other Popish
Princes and States abroad: And GOD's Wrath being clearly denounced,
in his Word, against such Confederacies with his stated Antichristian
and ungodly Enemies; as being a giving of their Power,
insofar, to the Beast, and a helping the ungodly and them that hate
the Lord: His Accession to the Throne of these Realms, while he
continues in such a Confederacy, if it be not witnessed against, and
mourned over, cannot fail to bring the LORD's Wrath on the
Lands, according as he has declared in his Word, even against his
own Servants, when guilty of that Sin: And our Confederating
with him as our King, while he is thus confederated with, and allied
to Babylon, and with the Kings of the Earth, whom the Mother
of Harlots hath made drunk with the Wine of her Fornications,
would certainly involve us in the same Guilt with him, and make us
by too near and direct a Consequence, supporters of the Kingdom
of Antichrist.

4. Because the Laws, Acts, Limitations, and Conditions, by virtue
whereof the Crown of England is devolved on him and his Heirs
and Successors, are plainly inconsistent with God's Word, and our
sacred Covenants; For these Acts and Limitations are intentionally
framed and enacted for the perpetual Establishment of the Popish Hierarchy
of Arch-bishops, Bishops, &c. and of the set Forms of
Prayer, and corrupt Administration of the Sacraments, and other
idolatrous Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England: For
therein they oblige all their Kings and Queens solemnly to swear,
not only that they shall for ever maintain to the Bishops and Clergy
of that Realm, and to the Churches committed to their Charge, all
such Rights and Privileges, as by their Law do or shall appertain
unto them, or any of them; but also, That they shall be personally
of that Antichristian Church; the which Oath he hath actually
sworn and engaged in, and that after all the Superstitious Customs
and Formalities of that Church; and if we should submit to,
and concur with him, in his Performance of that Oath, how could
we avoid the Sin of manifest Perjury and Covenant-breaking? which
all his Supporters, Defenders, and Abetters are chargeable with:
And where then is the Reformation of England, which, by the Solemn
{11}
League and Covenant, we are bound to endeavour? And
further, which is a 5th Reason,

5. Because he hath taken that English Oath, after he had, in
Council, received and sworn the Coronation Oath of Scotland; which
the Wit of Man will never be able to reconcile with the Engagement
contained in the English Oath, and with his present Practice: For,
in the sound Scots Coronation Oath, he is bound to serve the Eternal
God, according to his Word: But by the English Oath and
Limitations of Government, he must do it according to the Ceremonies
of the idolatrous Kirk of England; which is not according
to GOD's Will revealed in his Word. In the Scots Coronation
Oath, he is bound to root out of this Realm, all Hereticks and
Adversaries to the true Religion; in the English Oath, he is bound
to support and maintain the Prelates; which are capital Enemies to
the true reformed Religion, and covenanted Reformation of the
three Kingdoms: And instead of rooting out, he is already supporting,
maintaining, and encouraging them, and many gross Hereticks
beside; as appears, in his acceptance of, and kindly Answer
to the Address of that abominable Sect called Quakers, &c. And
hence it appears, That he hath taken two contradictory Oaths,
which involves him in the Guilt of Perjury; and a perjured Person
ought not to be a Member of the meanest Court, and far less a Supreme
Magistrate. Be it so, That he took not the ancient, right,
and sound Coronation Oath of Scotland, but swore "to preserve the
Settlement of this Church, as established by Laws made in prosecution
of the Claim of Right, and Acts of Parliaments of both Kingdoms,
for Union of the two Kingdoms;" yet hence it appears,
That his taking of that Oath, can be no real Security to the People
of Scotland, for their sacred and civil Concerns; seeing he could not
take the right Oath in its true and genuine import, whatever Security
it may seem to be, to the present Erastian Church Establishment,
and to the execrable Union; which we dare not own.

6. As he is by the foresaid Oath and Limitations, to support the
English Erastian and Idolatrous Church, and be of the Communion
thereof; so likewise, by the same Laws and Limitations of England,
he is to assume to himself, that unallowable Prerogative, Stile, and
Title of Head of the Church, and supreme Judge in Causes Ecclesiastick;
which, as was said, for Man or Angel to arrogate, is the
{12}
highest Blasphemy and Usurpation; And by virtue of that horrible
Supremacy, he is to maintain and preserve (or further to pervert rather)
this degenerate Church of Scotland in her adulterate Constitution
and corrupt Establishment, to the Detriment and Obstruction
of the LORD's Work in the Land. And may we own, or
should we submit ourselves to a Man, that puts the Mediator out
of his Throne and Chair of State, and that robs him of his Royal
Crown, Sword, and Scepter; and so is a civil Pope, and State Antichrist,
or secular Beast.

7. Because all the Right he can claim to the Crown of Scotland,
is founded on the late sinful Treaty of Union; which all good Men
ought forever to abhor. An Union, which is most directly contrary
to our Covenanted Union, and destroys all our Fundamental Laws
and Liberties; Establisheth Prelacy in England, and Erastianism in
Scotland forever, in their Terms; and has introduced the Service-Book
into this Land, and brings on us many other sad Evils, more fully
recited and insisted on, in the Protestation emitted against it, at the
Cross of Sanquair, October 2d. 1707, And should we, who upon good
and relevant Grounds Protested against that Treaty, and all the
Traitors that carried it on; and all their Infamous Acts and proceedings,
and particularly against that Act of making choice of the Duke
of Hanover to Rule over these Lands, now Counteract our own
Testimony, and Homologate that woful Treaty, by owning him,
when set up, against whose Succession we then Testified? surely in so
doing, we should make our selves Transgressors, and Dissemblers
with GOD and Man.

8. And as this is all the Right he can claim, so there are none of
the Ancient Good Limitations and Conditions of Government, which
our Laws make Fundamentally necessary to all that should Reign over
this Kingdom, either demanded of him, or had from him: As
Namely, there is no security had or sought, that he shall, by and attour
the true and full Coronation Oath (which he hath not yet
taken) assure and declare by his solemn Oath, under his Hand and
Seal, his allowance of the National Covenant, and the Solemn League
and Covenant, and his Obligation to Prosecute the Ends thereof, in
his Station and Calling; and that he shall for himself and Successors,
consent to, and approve the whole Work of Reformation and
Uniformity, and Laws enjoyning and establishing the same: And of
{13}
his firm Resolution to continue therein, all the Days of his Life, and
adhere thereunto in his own Practice and Family; and to maintain
the same in his Dominions; and to Extirpate out of them, whatsoever
is found contrary thereunto: But he neither was nor is in
Capacity to give any such Security; being Principled and Preingaged
to the contrary. Should we then own any in high place of
Trust or Office, who is not, will not, and cannot be duly qualified
for the same?

9. Because, he is surrounded with such Counsellors, and served with
such Officers, as are undeniably Malignants, and Enemies to our
Covenanted Reformation; who, if the best Laws that ever were
Established in this Kingdom, were put in due Execution, would,
from highest to lowest, be Denude of all Power and Trust, and
brought to condign Punishment: And when such are the Men of
his Council, how is it Possible his Government should be for the
Good and Advancement of Religion? Or how can he be a Terror
to Evil Doers, and a Praise and Encouragement to them that do
well? Especially considering, what a lax and untender Man he is,
in his own Conversation, Profaning the LORD's Holy Day, with
Journeying thereon, choosing his Ministers of State, and the like unnecessary
Worldly Employments and Recreations: And how can it be
expected that a Man, who is so untender and unchristian in his
private Walk, being attended and abetted by such Latitudinarians as
himself, can prove a Blessing in his Publick Administrations?

From all which, and other such like, weighty Reasons and Causes,
it appears he wants the true Characters, and hath exceeded the
sacred and just Boundaries Prescribed in the Word of GOD, and examplified
in our Covenants and Laudable Laws; hath arrogate a
Prerogative above the Divine Prescripts, being neither qualified for,
nor duly called to the Office, nor capable to improve it for the
Ends GOD hath appointed, for the good of his Church; but is
engaged and Sworn to the contrary, even to encourage and maintain
Evil Doers, Idolaters, and Abjured Prelates and Malignants;
and is himself, by Profession and Practice, an Erroneous and Scandalous
Person, giving his Power to the Beast, and joining in affinity
with the People of these Abominations. Therefore we will Acknowledge
him no otherwise, than in the General part of this Testimony
is more fully Expressed. But justly do, in our own Name,
{14}
and in the Name of all these who shall adhere unto us, upon the
same or the like valid Grounds and Reasons, Protest, Testify and
Declare against the Election, Proclamation, Coronation, and Admission
of him to be King here, as is said above.

Moreover we look upon it, as a necessary Duty, on many just
and weighty Causes, for the Ends aforesaid, in Imitation of our
worthy Ancestors, who have been honoured to be famous Witnesses
and Contenders for the Prince of the Kings of the Earth; and
in pursuance and Prosecution of our present Testimony, handed down
to us, by the Blood and Sufferings of a Noble Cloud of faithful
Witnesses, who loved not their lives unto the Death, in the Cause
and Quarrel of their Royal Master, to Publish now to the World,
in a way competent to us, in our Stations, with our foresaid Adherence
to our former laudable Constitutions both in Church and
State, our utter dislike, detestation, and abhorrence of, and dissent
from the courses that have been, and yet are carried on in thir [these]
Lands, by the bulk and body of Prelates, Malignants, Erastians, and
Backsliding Ministers and Professors, in their paving a way for the
Accession of their foresaid pretended King to the Throne, and setting
him up, submitting to him, and corroborating his Establishment
and Authority, contrary to our sacred and civil Rights, and the
Obligation of our Covenants.

And first, we enter our Testimony and Protestation against the
Estates of Parliament so called, Noblemen, Barons, and Burrows, who
by their Birth and Station, ought to have been the Defenders
and Maintainers of the true Religion, and as the Shields of the Earth,
to have cast their shaddow over the City of GOD: And also, to
have been preservers and promoters of the Liberty, and external
Peace and wellfare of the Kingdom: And in order to these Ends,
ought to have chosen one to bear Charge over the LORD's Inheritance,
who was known to be brought up in the Principles of the
true reformed Religion, contained in the Word of GOD, summed up
in our Confession of Faith, and Catechisms larger and shorter, and
one that had given Proof of his being a Man of approven Integrity,
and of a Blameless and Christian Conversation; a Man zealous and
honest in, and well affected to the Cause of CHRIST; and one
against whom there is no just Ground of Exception, or Cause of
Jealousie. Whereas, on the contrary, they being for the most part
{15}
wicked and ungodly Men themselves, Strangers to the fear of GOD,
Enemies to the Truth, and to the Power of Godliness, Persecuters
of the Godly, and haters of the Cause and Kingdom of our
LORD JESUS CHRIST, and of a most grossly Scandalous Conversation,
& of unsound & heterodox Principles, hating to be reformed
or reproved; and such as had Palpably broken and rejected GOD's
Covenant; and so have forefaulted all Right to be the Representatives
of the Kingdom, or to bear any Office or Trust therein; being
many of them Men of Death by the Law of GOD, for their heinous
Crimes: Having notwithstanding, by unjust Power and Force,
intruded themselves into such places, and under the Name and Notion
of Laws, have carried on a Combination against the LORD
and His CHRIST; against the true reformed Religion and Covenanted
Interest; against the Liberty, Being, and Dependency of the
Nation; against the Property of the Subjects: And in short, against
all that's dear to Men and Christians, as appears Eminently in the
late unhappy and unhallowed Union, by which Religion is betrayed
and ruined, Prelacy, Heresy, and Erastianism advanced, confirmed,
encouraged, & established, the Nation sold and enslaved; the People
oppressed and impoverished; and a complex course of Apostacy and
Defection, from our once Lovely and Glorious Reformation, more
deeply and firmly Strengthened and Rooted in these Lands, than ever
Tyranny and Bloodshed, in time of Persecution and Violence,
could attain to: in which Treaty also, to Crown all their other
Mischiefs, and intail all these Miseries on all succeeding Posterity,
so far as in them lay, they in compliance with that Covenant-breaking,
Proud, and Perfidious Kingdom of England, made choice of a
Man Educate in a strange Land, intirely unacquainted with our
Laudable Laws and Constitutions; bred up in the most biguotted
Heresies and Errors of these called Lutherians, pretending (but falsely)
to derive their Name and Opinions from that honoured Instrument
of Reformation, Martin Luther: A People who hate the true
Reformed Religion, and Professors thereof, under the Name of Calvinists,
and redicule and scoff at many of the true Protestant Doctrines;
as Namely, the Doctrine of God's free & absolute Decrees of Election
and Reprobation; the Doctrine of Justification by Faith only; and
of Man's inability to convert himself, without saving and preventing
Grace; of the Perseverance of the Saints, and other the like
{16}
Fundamental Articles of our Reformed Religion: And who, in many
weighty Points of Doctrine and Rites of Worship, fall in with Papists
and Arminians and other Heresies; as in their Consubstantiation,
or real Presence of CHRIST's Body and Blood, in and under
the Elements of Bread and Wine, in the LORD's Supper; and receiving
thereof by the Wicked and Bodies of Men; their Ubiquity
of CHRIST's Body, which overthrows His Human Nature, and so
overturns the whole Foundation of our Christian Faith; their Doctrine
of conditionality and indefiniteness of Election and Reprobation; of
the Power of Man's Free-will in Conversion, of the final Apostasie
and utter falling away of the Saints from a state of Grace; their
Exorcisms, and crossings in Baptism; their Common-Prayers, and superstitious
Collects and Hymns, conform to the Popish-Mass-Book,
(and the English Prelatick Examplication thereof) their retaining
Latin singing, Organs, and Images in their Churches: And many
other Superstitions, which would be too tedious here to insert: And
not only a Man brought up in this strange and false Religion, but
inured to the Maxims of Absolute and Tyrannical Government in
his own Principalities; which cannot but highly endanger our Lives,
Liberties, and Properties, as well as our Religion: A man in strict
Alliance and Confederacy with Popish Princes and States Abroad;
called the Standard-Bearer of the Sacred (rather Execrable) Roman
Empire; and (of late) Bishop of Osnaburg; not only a mark of the
Beast, but a Name of Blasphemy on the Secular Beast: A Man
wanting all these Qualifications of approven Fidelity, Zeal, and Integrity
in, and of known good affection to the Cause of GOD; and
of a Blameless and Christian Conversation, which the Word of GOD
(Exod. 18.21; Deut. 17.15; 2 Sam. 23.3; 2 Chro. 19.6,7; Psalm
101 throughout; Rom. 13.3,4,6; 1 Tim. 2.2; 1 Pet. 2.13,14.)
and laudable Laws and Practicks of this Realm, (the forecited Acts,
and Act 15 Febr. 7; Act 26, Febr. 17. 1649 Parl. 2 Char. with Act
5 June 11. 1640) require to be in Kings, Rulers, Judges, and Officers
Supreme or Inferior: And a Branch of that Family of Stuarts, whom
the Lord's Worthies have declared to be such, as God had devoted to
Destruction, for their long Perfidy, Tyranny, Bloodshed, and Apostacy
from the Cause and Covenant of the LORD: And that not one Man
only, but a whole Family, Race, and Succession, him and his Heirs and
Successors being (in their Corrupt Sense) Protestants: And in order to
{17}
Establish that Succession, they made many wicked Laws and Limitations
of the English Parliament, and imposed and took the Abjuration
Oath, establishing thereby the corrupt Church of England, together
with that Succession; and obliged all their Ministers, both Establisht
and Tolerate, in express Words to Pray for him and all
his Royal Family: And now, after their Malignant Queen's Death,
they have Proclaimed him in all the Capital Towns of these Kingdoms,
and admitted him to the actual exercise of the Government,
and Crowned him, and Anointed him, after the Abominable and Superstitious
Custom of the English-Popish-Church. Upon all which and
many other Grounds that might be Enumerate, it is evident, how
exceeding Guilty these pretended Representatives have been, in casting
off the thing that is Good, and setting up Kings, but not by the
Counsel or revealed Will of the LORD, and making Princes that
he will not acknowledge [Hos. 8.4.]; for, they have transgressed the sacred
Boundaries, which he had Prescribed in his Word: And have betrayed
all the Precious Interests, which were handed down to them,
by our worthy Progenitors: And so have fallen from, and incapacitated
themselves to retain these Places of Trust, Offices, Posts, and
Dignities, which otherwise should have been their's by Right. And
therefore, we Protest and Declare against their holding them in
Possession; and that all Acts, Laws, Sentences, and Executions, inacted,
issued, or to be issued from them, in the Capacity of a Parliament,
or the Representative Body of the Realm, shall not be looked
upon, as binding on us, or any true Subject of the Kingdom.

In the next place, we enter our Testimony and Protestation against
the Unfaithful and Backsliding Ministers of this Erastian Church: As
for all their former Unworthy and Unchristian Compliances, Faintings,
and Yeildings to CHRIST's Enemies; in their Burying the
Holy Covenants and Covenanted Work of Reformation; Settling
their present Constitution upon that Act in 1592, keeping Erastian
Assemblies; Observing Diets and Causes of Fasts and Thanksgiving,
and Forms of Prayer, Indicted and Imposed by the prophane
Secular Powers and Abjured Prelates; being silent at all their other
sinful Acts and Impositions Establishing Defection and Multiformity,
in Religion; and Oppression and Robbery in the LORD's Lands; taking
their illimited and Unlawful Oaths of Allegiance, Assurance, &c.
(Testified against in our former Declarations and Practice) and
their defending all these evils, and the late sinful Confederacies
{18}
and Peace, as Duties: So more expressly, for their Combination
with, and Strengthening the Hands of these pretended Representatives
of the Kingdom, in this complex course of abandoning our
most Valuable Concerns, to the Lust and Will of the English, in the late
unhappy Treaty of Union; and in their chusing of this Man, who is now
advanced (in the LORD's Anger, Hosea 13.11.) to be King in thir [these]
Lands. As it was the Duty of Faithful Watchmen (providing they
had been such) to have Warned, Beseech'd, and Obtested them, in
the Name of the LORD JESUS, that they should not desert the
Cause and Work of GOD themselves; nor betray it into the Hands
of a perfidious, selfish, and imperious Nation, who had formerly
broken Covenant with GOD and us; and returned to their Vomit,
to embrace the Superstitious Rites of the Church of Rome, and her
Worldly Monarchy and wicked Hierarchy: And that they should
not have made choice of one, unto whose Hands they would commit
all the Precious and Great Concerns of Religion and Liberty,
who was not only a Stranger, but an Adversary to both? Alas!
was this all the Care that the Professed Servants of JESUS CHRIST
(but really the Ministers of Men) shewed for His lovely Spouse, to
give her up into the Hands of a Stranger, not only of a Strange
Nation, but, which is far more considerable, of a Strange Religion!
Ah! what Sin and Disgrace it is, for us, after so long and sad
Experience of the People of these Abominations! What Pricks they
have been in our Eyes, and Thorns in our Side! and how they have
laid waste the LORD's Heritage, that yet we should put into their
Hands the Supreme Power, and make them Guardians of Religion,
Liberty, and Property, who cannot in Reason or Conscience be judged
cordial Friends to either: But only seekers of their own Grandure,
Honour, Interest, and Authority! Had we not sufficient Trial
of Charles 2d tho' he was more strictly Bound, than ever was any
Monarch to be for GOD; how his Education, Principles, Lusts,
and Interest brake through all Bonds and Tyes, of the most Sacred
Nature? Had we not abundant Experience in the late pretended
King William how his Erastian Education, &c. inclined him to
exercise a Tyrannical, Erastian Power over the Church, in Dissolving
and Adjourning the Supreme Courts thereof, at his Pleasure,
with an Absolute and uncontrouled Supremacy? Might we not
been enough convinced, how dangerous it was, to Trust one of a
strange Religion, with Sovereign Power, from the late perfidy and
{19}
Treachery of the pretended Queen Ann, who, being Educate in the
Bigotted Principles of their High-Church, and encompassed with
Counsellours and Servants of that Stamp, sought to draw all her Dominions
to be of that Opinion? as appears by her bearing down
the Dissenters in England and Ireland, her Tolerating and Encouraging
the English-Service-Men in Scotland, and her carrying on a Peace
with France, for bringing in the Pretender and Popery; which is but
a fairer and correcter Edition of their High-Church? were not all
these, with her persisting in and practising the Erastian Encroachments
of her Predecessor, enough to put the Backsliding Ministers of
Scotland to have Protested and Testified against the Accepting of any
such for the future? Especially a whole Race and Succession of such.
Did the Prelates of England appear so firm and forward for their Church
(if it deserve the Name of a Church) their wicked Hierarchy, for
their Lordly Dominions, their fat Benefices, and Rich Revenues, their
Superstitious Set-Forms, Rites, and Ceremonies of Men's Invention;
that they would rather want a King, than have one that were not
of their Communion? And were the pretended Presbyterian Ministers
of Scotland less concerned for the Ancient Glorious Reformation
of this Church; the true Doctrine, the Instituted Worship and
Government and the well Ordered Discipline, all according to the
Pattern shewed in the Mount? Alas! tell it not in Gath, publish it
not in the Streets of Askelon, lest the Daughters of the Uncircumcised rejoice,
lest Babylon, Rome, France, Spain, Papists, and Malignants lift up their
Head, and sing their Song of Triumph, over the once Famous and
Zealous (but now degenerate) Church of Scotland. Nor was their
Unfaithfulness all, in not Warning of these that had the Power in
their Hands, to beware of such a choice, that if possible they might
turn them from that Evil course by Protesting and Testifying against
them, and declaring to them what Plagues and Judgments would overtake
them, and the People that should go alongst with them in
their forsaking GOD's Covenant, and casting His Laws behind their
Back. But beside all this, the Hands of the Ministers have been all alongst
actively chief in this Trespass, by counseling and Advising the
Nobles to this choice, in Compliance with England, by their contributing
to that accursed Treaty of Union, as the best Means for getting
the Crown devolved on this Man and his Family: And many
of them Owning that this was the chief thing, together with
the clatty Security of their Erastian Constitution, that engaged them
{20}
to appear for that Treaty; and to Oppose all Resolutions among
the People for hindering its being carried on and commenced: By
their sinful Silence, when the English Oath of Abjuration was imposed
upon all Persons in civil Office; Because that Oath was made and
imposed for the Security (not only of the Church of England, but)
of that Succession in the House of Hanover: By their taking it themselves,
tho' it was so clearly and convincingly against their
own Profest Principles, that several of themselves, for common shame
could not but forbear it: Yet such was their violent Desire, for
the carrying on of that Course of Defection, and strengthening this
woful Succession, that they maugre all Oppositions, took that sinful
Oath, in conjunction with, and Submission to the Prelates of
England, and their Tolerated Hirelings in Scotland, for the perpetual
standing and Settlement of that Episcopal Church Government
and Liturgy, which we are bound by Covenant to Extirpate: And
when they had taken it, varnished all over with the fair pretext of
its being only designed to exclude Popery and the Pretender: As
if there had been no means left for excluding the Pretender, except
joining Hands with Hanover; nor for preventing Popery, but by
joining with Lutherianism: And by their State Pamphlets under
the specious Title of a solemn Warning (most unlike to the Solemn
and seasonable Warnings of this Church formerly, as may be seen in
their Acts 12 Feb. 1645, and 31 July 1648, and 27 July 1649.)
contributing what they could, to make all the People to be of their
Party, Side, and Faction; (accounting all others Jacobites:) wherein
they among other Things, used this deceitful Artifice, to blind
the People; namely a Recounting what was commendable in some
of this Man's Progenitors, to set him up in, and endear the People's
Affections unto him: But never telling them what sort of a Man
himself is, both as to his erroneous Principles, dreadful Associations,
and tyrannical Actings. By their Acts of Assembly, ratifying the
malignant Magistrates Erastian Encroachments on the Church's
intrinsick Power of Appointing the Dyets & Causes of Fasting, &c.
enjoining all their People to a religious Observance of these Erastian
extrinsick Appointments; and their Submission to Erastian
Acts of Parliament, and Proclamations of their late Queen and her
Council, enjoining all Ministers in their publick Prayers, in every
publick Congregation or Assembly, to pray in express Words for
him, and all his pretended Royal Family, under the pain of Court
{21}
Censure, even to Deprivation: By their active Concurrence with
the whole rable of Prelatists and Malignants, Noblemen and Gentlemen,
in Proclaiming him King, without any the least Demand of
Security for Religion or Liberty; and making extraordinary Demonstrations
for Joy, as Ringing some of their Church Bells, putting
on Bonfires, setting up Illuminations in their Windows, and carousing
and Drinking of Healths, huzzaing, breaking of Glasses, and encouraging
the Mob to the like Revelling and Drinking, both by their
Example, a Thing inconsistent with moral Honesty, and contrary to
ministerial Gravity in any Case, and much more at the Accession of
such a Man to tyrannize over the Lands: And likewise some of
them, by Contributing Money for the Rabble, to drink the Healths of
the Day, as they profanely speak: And Repeating all these, and
the like Revellings, at his Proclamation, Arrival, and Coronation.
And when these light and treacherous Persons, who have polluted
the Sanctuary, and done violence to the Law, who have seen, for these
Lands, false Burdens and Causes of Banishment, saw fit to hold a
solemn (but mock) Thanksgiving, for the Accession of him, whose
coming is in the LORD's Wrath, as a Plague to these apostate Lands;
they would not appoint a Day by their pretended Ecclesiastick Authority,
but sent up to their Master, that he, with Advice of his Prelates,
might do it by his Erastian Supremacy; which accordingly,
by the Advice foresaid, he indicted in his Name and Authority, to
be observed the 20th Day of January last, by sound of Trumpet, &c.
as his late Predecessors had usually done before. Whereby these
Men-pleasers (not the Servants of Christ) do thrust the Prerogatives
of Christ, and Priviledges of his Church into the Man's Hand, before
he had sought, or actually arrogate the same, as to the Exercise
thereof: And thereby evidenced, That they were dealing deceitfully
and falsely with the Lord and his People, while formerly they
pretended that the Power of the Keys was violently wrested out of
their Hands, by preceeding Dominators; which now, without
Temptation, they wilfully surrender: A Practice, both Antiscriptural,
and contrary to the Testimony subscribed by famous and faithful
Witnesses, in the Years 1658 and 1659, wherein they Testify against
the civil Powers, their Prescribing publick Humiliation and
Thanksgiving, with the Causes and Dyets thereof, to all the Ministers
and Members of the Church; as being contrary to the well
warranted Privileges and constant Practice of this Church, and in its
{22}
Nature introductory to greater Incroachments, and putting into the
Hands of the civil Power, the Modelling of the publick Worship of
God, and Things most properly Ecclesiastick. And finally, by their
Addressing him, as their Lawful and Rightful Sovereign, and leige
Lord, in such flattering and complementing Terms; whereby their
Unfaithfulness to him appeared, in not showing plainly from the
Word of the Lord, to one whom they owned as their King, The
Sin and Danger of his Associations and Confederacies with Idolaters,
and helping the Beast; of the erroneous and heterodox Principles
of the false Religion he hath been educate in, and yet professeth;
and how certainly the mighty and terrible God will destroy all
Kings and People, that put to their Hand, to alter and destroy the
House of God; especially how terrible he will be to the Kings of
the Earth, that have usurped Christ's royal Prerogatives, altered his
Institutions, changed his Ordinances, and undertaken to maintain
the Corruption thereof, and a lordly Prelacy, contrary to his express
Prohibition: For surely the Lord's Anointed in Zion, shall,
as with a Rod of Iron, dash all such in Pieces, like a Potter's Vessels. [Psalm 2.9.]
Now had they been, as they would be accounted, the Servants of
Christ, they would not, they durst not seek to please Men, as they
sinfully do, even one loaden with Iniquity, set down upon, and
entered Heir to a Throne of Iniquity; but would strive to be found
faithful to Christ, and the Souls for which they pretend to watch.
Nor did these blind Guides, or unfaithful Watch-men, present to
their King (whom yet they pretend to be in Capacity to receive and
redress them) the many sad Grievances that this Land lies under;
even these that are confessedly such to themselves; as the Patronage
Act, and the Toleration of the English Service, & the Act Prohibiting
all Justices of Peace, and other civil Officers, to concur with this
Church, in Corroborating any Sentences or Censures thereof; and the
like. By all which Instances, to say nothing of their daily preachings
and Prayers, holding forth his Accession to be so great a Mercy,
Blessing, and Deliverance to these Nations; it appears plainly, how
great an Hand the Ministers of this Erastian Establishment have had
in this whole complex Course of Defection and Apostasy from the
covenanted Reformation, and ancient laudable civil Constitution of
this Land: And also how many valid Grounds, we and all the
Lovers of Truth, have for our Protesting and Declaring against them;
and for Declining them, and standing off from any Concurrence
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with them in this their new Course and crooked Way, by hearing
them, or receiving Ordinances as dispensed by such unfaithful
Stewards, or paying them any thing, or observing any of their Appointments,
compearing before their Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods,
or Assemblies; and for our continuing to protest and testify (as
hereby we do) against the Constitution, Acts, and Proceedings of all
these their Ecclesiastick Meetings, as not bearing the Stamp, nor
cloth'd with the Authority of Jesus Christ; nor they acting for, or depending
on him alone.

Next, we judge it our Duty, to Protest, Declare, and bear Testimony
against the Bulk and Body of the professing People of these
Lands, and chiefly in this covenanted Kingdom; for their willingly
Walking after the Commandment of their pretended Rulers and
great Ones; and Strengthening their Hands, by their Concurrence
with them, in all these sinful Courses; whereby they do, in their
Stations, contribute what lies in their Power, to the Carrying on
of all this Course of Apostasy; Submitting to their Laws and Ordinances,
contrary to the Word of God, (Jer. 3.20; Hos. 11.7;
Prov. 14.14. with Jer. 5.5,6; and 8.4,6,9.) and our ancient
fundamental Laws, which are the People's great Charter and Security
for Religion and Liberty: And also, for their being implicitly
led and persuaded by these Ministers, even while many of
them were not ignorant of the Tendency and Design of the Course
that they were leading them into; and while they were in some
Measure sensible of the many Sins and Grievances they were thereby
like to be involved in: And for their Concurring so Chearfully
at this Juncture, in showing such Demonstrations of Joy and Satisfaction
(or rather Madness) at the Accession of such a Man, to
the Government, as if all their Desires of Reformation were obtained,
their Wishes granted, and all their civil Interests for ever
secured to them: While yet, there appears no Alteration to the
better, in the Face of Affairs; but rather a Lengthening out and confirming
of our Defection and Deformation, a Corroborating and
Perpetuating of our Slavery, under the Yoke of English Erastian
Tyranny. Alas! how sad and deplorable is it, to see the Bulk and
Body of a professing [Christian] Nation, once in Covenant with God, to be
so far blinded and misled, that no Means will awaken them; but
that rather they are sitting down in a profound Security and Satisfaction
under all, and rejoicing in their outward Peace, while Truth
{24}
and Godliness are so far at under. Neither will it excuse them from
having an active Hand in the Trespass, that they are but common
People, and cannot go out of their Station, for Advancing Reformation
and Preventing Defection: For, seeing these, who by Birth
and Place ought to have been the Representatives of the Nation
and Managers of publick Affairs, have so visibly forfaulted their
Right thereunto, the People may not only refuse their active Consent
and Submission to their pretended Laws; but, if they have Power,
may remove them, & place others in their Room, that will act for the
Good of Religion, and the Liberty of the People: And therefore, as
we cannot but testify against the professing People, for their sinful
Compliance with the Wicked Rulers, and unfaithful Guides, whom
they obey and follow: so we do most earnestly beseech and obtest
them, to lay Matters seriously to Heart, and consider how they are
stated, and what their Case, Cause, and Course is: (For we are fully
persuaded, that our Lord Jesus Christ, is as really suffering in His
Truths, Cause, and Interest, always since the Revolution, as he did
when his People suffered to Death for them:) and that it is their
Duty to search and try their Ways (Lam. 3.40.) to abandon their
former backsliding Courses, and return to the Lord, acknowledging
their Sins, with a true Repentance and godly Sorrow for them; to
renew the Covenants with God, and one with another, and prosecute
the Ends of them, in a Conjunction with us, or any who so do,
for the getting Reformation advanced; seeing it is so palpably manifest,
That such as are in Places of Eminency this Day, whether
in Church or State, have the same very little at Heart.

And finally, we Protest, Declare, and Testifie, against all, who
not being included in the former Ranks, are engaged in the same
sinful course of Defection: As against the whole Militia, Military,
Commanders in Chief and Inferiour, with all the Soldiers; not
only for their Malignancy and gross Profanity; but also for their
hazarding Soul and Body in serving so ill a Master, in such an ill
Cause and Quarrel, Guarding, Supporting, and Strengthening him,
and these that Act in his Name and Authority, contrary to the Law
of GOD, contrary to the Covenanted Work of Reformation, and
contrary to the best Laws of the Land, which were conform to the
Word of GOD and our Sworn Covenants; by which no Person
of a Profane, Malignant, or Scandalous Carriage; none that maintained
any Error, or Practice contrary to the Doctrine, Worship, and
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Discipline of the Kirk (as then reformed) or against the Civil Government
as then Established, according to the Covenant, &c.
should be suffered to abide or Serve in the Army, whether Officer
or Soldier, but must be removed and cashired. (Acts for Purging of
the Army, 1649.) Their being now under such Command and pretended
Authority, will not excuse them from the Guilt of the course
and carriage here justly condemned; nor deliver them from the
Wrath and Curse of a Holy Jealous and Sin-Revenging GOD, who
is a consuming Fire to the Workers of Iniquity, and will come in
Flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on all that know not GOD, and
obey not the Gospel [2 Thess. 1.8]; which Vengeance, their Practice, Cause, and
Course do justly procure, and without due and timeous Repentance,
will certainly be inflicted. So likewise we Testify against all
Levying of Men, to Fight in their Unnecessary, Sinful, and Antichristian
Quarrels; as against these Levies that have been in former
Years, whereby Men were drawn, as Sheep to the Slaughter, to
Fight and Fall in a Popish and Foreign War, helping the Pillars
and Limbs of Antichrist, in and by their sinful Confederacies with the
LORD's Stated Enemies: So against all Levying for the Time to
come, by these Malignant Powers now in Place; and all joining with
them, in their ill Cause and wrong stated Quarrel; it not being according
to the Ancient Covenanted Plea, against Popery, Prelacy,
Sectarianism, and Erastianism, and all things contrary to sound Doctrine
and the Power of Godliness: Declaring also that we will, by
the Grace and Assistance of our GOD, join with none of them, until
we be satisfied in our Conscience with the Evidences of their Repentance
and Reformation, and that their Cause and Plea is Good
and Rightly stated, and their Camp duly Purged.

And also, we bear Testimony against all that receive Pensions and
Sallaries from or under the said pretended King George; all his Receivers,
Collectors, Surveyers, Guagers, Waiters, and all the rest Superior
or Inferior, that depend on him, or act in his Name and
Authority; because, as he hath no just Right Divine or Human to
Rule here, or Employ them; so, they can have none to Officiate
for and under him: Also, their Malignity and Profanity does incapacitate
them for these Posts, Offices, and Employments: And the
Customs, Taxations, and Exactions, which they are Employed about,
are but Oppression and Robbery.

From all we have said, it plainly appears, that we do not, and
{26}
can by no Means, consent unto the foresaid Wicked Laws and Limitations,
whereby the said George is de facto made King over these
Realms of Scotland, England, and Ireland; nor any way concur, combine,
or comply, with these Abjured Prelates and Malignants, who
have made choice of, brought in, set up, and do Establish him, who
is of the same Stamp and Designation with themselves: Nor with
any others, who do Confirm, Support, or Countenance him in the
Government, or who do Address him, or crave Redress of Grievances
from him; who is no way qualified, or capable to Redress our
greatest and most important Grievances. And here, we may not
dissemble our Grief, Horrour, and Astonishment, not so much at these
(designed the Primores Regni) whose Principles, evident in their
Practice, never led them to be for the Covenanted Work of
Reformation; nor yet at these, who pretending to be
Guides and Teachers of the People, shew themselves satisfied
to abide in their Breaches, by their sinful and shameful Addresses;
But at such as would appear more refined, and who professedly had
sufficient Grounds of Withdrawing from, and disowning both this
degenerate Church and State; to see or hear of these Addressing this
Stranger of a false Religion, an Helper of Christ's open Enemies, and
an Opposer of his Interest and Work of Reformation in these Lands,
being engaged to maintain the Enemies and Opposites thereof; For
Professors of the Truth and the Testimony of Jesus, to represent Grievances
to such an Enemy, and humbly crave Redress from him,
and thereby homologate his unlawful Election & unhappy Accession
to the Government, is dreadful and horrible. But that none be
hereby stumbled, they should advert, That as the Cause of God,
viz. The Covenanted Work of Reformation, is to be distinguished from the
Persons, who do espouse, or formerly did own the same; So it is the
Cause we desire to contend for, and not the Justification of Persons:
Therefore, whatever personal Infirmities, or Scandals of any
Sort, have appeared among these, who profess to own the same
Cause with us, when not vindicate by the whole, ought not to
reflect upon the Cause, nor be imputed to all its honest and stedfast
Lovers. As we have been frequently confessing and bewailing before
the Lord, that sinful Attempt, in any of our Brethren, Minister,
or others, who have advised or consented to, defended or
palliated, pleaded for or connived at that foul and shameful
Step of Defection from the Truth, the Covenanted Cause and
Testimony, and from their own professed Principles, in and by
{27}
their Representative and Supplicatory Address: For the
sin whereof we endeavoured to Afflict our Souls and be humbled:
So, we desire (which is just and equal) that the Scandalous Transgressions
and Extravagances, that any among us, or lately of us, have
fallen into, to the Detriment of the Cause; either by Addressing,
as aforesaid, contrary to Truth and our Testimony conform, and
contrary to their Professed Principles, and former Practice; Or by
defending, extenuating, and conniving at such Defection, to the great
Offence of Friends and others, may not be made use of, as an Occasion
of an ill Report or Reproach; either upon the Cause, or the
Stedfast Owners thereof. We desire to Mourn, that these things
are to be mentioned, and that we are necessitate to make such a sad
and unpleasant Relation of them: But we look upon their Course
in that Defection and Vindication thereof, and retarding this necessary
Testimony and Declaration so long and unseasonably thereby,
as attended with many Aggravations that others are not capable of:
And so, as being more loathsome to GOD, ought to be more detestable
to us. And as we Testify against such departings from the
LORD, and Unstedfastness in His Covenant; so we look on these
as the Fruits and Effects of the same Persons' Unsoundness in Judgment
and Unfaithfulness in their several Stations and Relations: Wherefore
the Lord seems to have given them up to walk in Counsels of
their own. We desire to Witness against all such Unfaithfulness, and
all healing of the hurt of the Daughter of Zion slightly [Jer. 6.14]; whereby
the Lord receives not the Glory due unto His Name; nor His People
their Offences duly removed: For, we love the Laws of our Father,
and the Ordinances of our Mother, the once Famous Church of
Scotland, tho' now betrayed into the Hands of her Enemies, and delivered
up to a Strange Lord to Domineer over her. But we further
Protest, that we (through Grace) will not submit to that Dominator,
nor own his Government, Or Strengthen his Hands, by
paying him Cess, or any other Exactions that are, or may be imposed
upon us, as Badges of Loyalty and Subjection to his unjust Government.
Nor by doing any other thing, that in Law or Reason,
can be interpreted an embracing, or Accepting of, or submitting to
him; otherwise than a Plague and just Judgment from the LORD
upon us for our sins, under which we should groan to our GOD.
Neither will we look upon any of his Laws, Statutes, or Acts as
Obligatory to, or binding upon us in any respect: Nor Own the
{28}
pretended Right of his Son, now Created Prince of Wales; Or
any other of the Heirs of his Body, to Succeed to him, after his
Decease; if they come to the Regiment, or Government as he
hath done, serving themselves Heirs to all the Iniquities of that
Throne of Iniquity (as he also hath done) by walking according
to the Statutes of Omri, in the Steps and wicked Works of the
House of Ahab, and in the ways of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.
And withal we Protest, that it be Lawful for us, and all that
Adhere to us in this Testimony, and hereby declare that we resolve,
to enlarge this our Protestation, against him and his Heirs,
as his or their Acts of Tyranny, Injustice, or Oppression, which we
have too just Grounds to expect, will be the Consequents of his
Illegal Investiture, shall afford us cause and Occasion of so doing.

And finally, We Protest, that none may justly construct, that this
our Testimony, Protestation, and Declaration doth proceed from
any Seditious, Factious, or Anarchical Principles; as if we disowned
all Magistrates and Magistracy: For, as we have all alongst, in
our former Declarations, Testified, that we are willing to own Rulers
in the LORD; Namely, such as are true Presbyterians in Principle
and Practice, and maintain the true Reformed Religion, in all its
Parts, viz. Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, and
Gainstand and Extirpate all false Religions, contrary thereto, according
to the Word of GOD, the Tenor of our Confession of
Faith, Covenants, Coronation Oath, and Fundamental Laws of the
Kingdom: So now likewise we declare, that we will chearfully
Own and Submit to them, whenever it shall please the LORD
to grant us such: And as He hath promised in His Holy Word, so
we believe and wait in hope, that He will give us, or His People
after us, Judges, Rulers, and Kings, having Scripture Qualifications,
and answering the Designations and Characters, and pursuing the
Ends prescribed and specified in His Word.

And that this our Protestation, Declaration, and Testimony, may
be brought to the View of the World, we have thought fit to publish
and leave Copies of the same affixed upon several Market Crosses
of chief Burghs, and other patent Places of the Kingdom, by a
Part of our Number, having the Consent of the whole so to do.

Given in Scotland the 6th Day of Aprile, Anno 1715.

Let Zion's Omnipotent King JESUS Reign, and let all his Enemies
be scattered. But let them that love him be as the Sun, when he
goeth forth in his Might. AMEN.